Sign-support.



PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905.

E. L. BELL. SIGN SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED rune. 1905.

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Attorneys Witnesses ENDO L. BELL, OF BERKLEY, VIRGINIA.

SIGN-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905.

Application filed May 26,1905. Serial No. 262,466.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENno L. BELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Berkley, in the county of orfolk and State of Virginia, haveinvented a new and useful Sign-Support, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to devices for supporting signs, moreparticularly for use in connection with railway-tracks for designatingthe various switch-tracks and the like;

and it has for its object to produce a simply' constructed devicewhereby a sign-plate may be easily and quickly arranged in position andchanged when required.

Withthese and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, as hereafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters,is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capableof carrying the same into practical operation.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimproved device applied; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of thesupporting-frame detached and without the signplate.

The improved device comprises a vertical open frame having guides at theends for receiving the ends of a sign-plate and a rest at the lower sidefor bearing beneath the signplate and with a lateral projection forminga base for connection to a support, such as a railway-tie.

The device is preferably formed from a single sheet of metal, with acentral aperture formed transversely through the same and a littlesmaller than the sign-plate, to be supported and folded over upon itselfat the ends, as at 10 11, to form vertical guides for the ends of thesign-plate, (represented at 12,) and with in opposite directions, as inFig. 2, to form a rest for the lower edge of the sign-plate to limit itsdownward movement. If it is required to secure the sign-plates inposition, transverse apertures, as at 16, will be provided to receivebinding wires, rivets, or similar fastenings.

The lateral base-extension portion 14 is provided with apertures 17 toreceive the holding members, such as railway-spikes, as at 18, by whichthe device may be fastened to the tie 19 adjacent to the rail 20 and inposition to be readily seen by the members of the train crew, switchmen,or others whose business it is to know what the sign denotes.

In railway-yards and like localities much annoyance, delay, andfrequently serious accidents occur from lack of knowledge regardingswitches, side tracks, and the like, and the improved device hereinillustrated is admirably adapted for denoting'the numbers and otherfacts concerning switches, switchtracks, and the like. The device beingof relatively small size will not interfere with the ordinary uses ofthe tracks, while at the same time is in the best place to impart thedesired information. The sign-plates can be readily changed whenrequired or renewed at small cost when worn or broken or the letteringor numbers become obliterated from exposure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is Theherein-described sign-support formed from a single sheet of metal with atransverse aperture and a lateral projection forming a supporting-base,the metal folded upon itself at the ends to form guides for the sign andfolded upon itself at the top to strengthen the structure and withspaced slits at the lower side of the aperture for bending in oppositedirections to form a bearing for the sign.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. ENDO L. BELL.

Witnesses:

RALPH W. CARTER, W. P. DOUGHERTY.

